Pep Guardiola makes Man City Premier League title prediction with Arsenal point

Manchester City claimed a 2-1 win over Newcastle United with Pep Guardiola issuing a Premier League title message to Arsenal

Pep Guardiola has delivered a clear title race message to both the Manchester City players and Arsenal after the win over Newcastle United. City claimed a 2-1 win over the Magpies to close the gap with the Gunners at the top of the Premier League table.

City are now just two points behind Arsenal, having played the same number of matches, with the Gunners facing Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal drew with Wolves in midweek, and City will have their game in hand once again once this weekend’s round of matches have been completed.

City’s win over Newcastle came thanks to a first-half brace from Nico O’Reilly, with Lewis Hall on the score sheet for the visitors at the Etihad Stadium.

With the title race intensifying and just 11 more fixtures still to be played, Guardiola offered a prediction for the rest of the campaign for both City and Arsenal.

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Guardiola also sent a message to the City players ahead of their next Premier League match, which sees them travel to face Leeds United next weekend

"Many things are going to happen," Guardiola told reporters. "I have a feeling that we are not going to win all our games. Arsenal, I don't know.

"But I have this feeling, because FA Cup, Champions League games, then comes trouble. Many, many games. Injuries will come.

"The best way is to relax now and focus on Leeds, then we'll see. It will depend on our level, it needs to be better, better, better."

"We have a lot of new players, that's why they have to live it," Guardiola added. "I've said, forget about it. We have to improve, it's not enough.

"To compete to win the Premier League you have to be there. We proved ourselves to win the three points but we have to do better to have the chance to do it.

"I say to the guys, 'Take a lot of caipirinhas and daiquiris in these three days, enjoy life'. And after that, make a proper three training sessions and go to Leeds. That is a proper way.

"I know how difficult it will be. If it doesn't go well, we keep going, never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot in the Premier League."

Despite winning five Premier League trophies in the past, Guardiola pointed to the inexperience in the City squad in a title race and praised the home fans in the win over Newcastle.

"70% of the players never played in that situation and I don't play. We have to believe it," Guardiola told TNT Sports.

"They know, we know, that until the end of the season every game will be like this.

"Today we had the best crowd of the year. It was unbelievable. I am really proud to be manager of these incredible fans."

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